1. Winning a National Championship is hard, very very hard. Kentucky constantly trots out talent but as only won one during Calipari's tenure. Winning with freshmen is not easy, even if they have talent, it is hard to get a bunch of guys with the me first attitude to play 6 games together on the highest stage.
2. Frank Kaminsky, he is a 3 star recruit who did not play much at all his frosh and sophmore year. Sometimes you just never know, we lucked out in getting a great player like Darrun Hillard, again a 3 star recruit that got better each season. One thing in common is both players have tremendous coaches. When you have a coach like Jay and staff like ours you just never know when a player is going to make a huge jump. You need kids with the right personality who are willing to put in the work and make the sacrifices. These kids are not easy to find, saying that Jay does a wonderful job of this and it is the main reason we will continue to be a very good basketball program.
3. Losing Ennis hurts and we will feel it November through mid January next year. Saying that, its hard to argue, no how much you love Dylan that the long term growth of Brunson/Booth helps the program. So yes, I will miss Dylann and I thank him for being part of my favorite teams, saying that lets just move on. Alot to be excited with Brunson and Booth manning the back court for a while, maybe one of our best back courts offensively.
4. I really think Bridges and Reynolds are going to surprise us next year. Call itn a whim, call it whatever. First Reynolds has had to guard JVP and Ochefu in practice for 2 years. He is learning and getting better, yes he didnt play this year but I think he can contribute. He wont be asked to score alot, he can work on the other parts of his game, I like his transition in getting those 9-12 minutes we need from. I think Bridges is going to come off our bench and give us instant energy, again he wont be asked to do whole lot but I think he helps in a way Booth and Hart did in the past. Come off give a 5-10 good minutes, shooting, and some toughness on D.
5. I am going to give a big shot out to Beefer. I watched the Wisconsin game and the Wisconsin players 3-5 were better rebounders, shooters and dribblers than Kentucky. That is why they won. Kaminsky, Dekker, Hayes are very versatile. Towns, Stein, Lyles are not. That was the difference. Love the Spellman pick up as he brings this, would love get either Durham or Big Nick as both can shoot and spread the floor. Jay really know what hes doing here. Also, a guy like Delaney, Donte, Bridges can bring you alot off the bench in reserve roles as shooters/passer/etc. Very excited. Also add a guy like Pascall who is 6-6 and this is a very good team. Would love to be in Phoenix for the Final Four, I have a free place to stay
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6. I am excited to see how next year plays out. We are going to take our bumps and bruises (mind you I said this last year as well). Good guards can do alot of things BUT we need Ochefu to truly have a special year for this all to work. I like Daniel's game, I think he needs to be a bit less tenative with the ball . We will struggle on D BUT I think Booth, Jenkins are going to get better and I think Reynolds and Bridges brings some nice length off the bench.
I think we get a lower seed (maybe a 3 or 4) and I think we make the Sweet 16/Elite 8 next year. I think this team will not be as good as last years but for some reason the brackets turn in our favor. Call it a gut feel or just being a homer either way, should be fun.
2. Frank Kaminsky, he is a 3 star recruit who did not play much at all his frosh and sophmore year. Sometimes you just never know, we lucked out in getting a great player like Darrun Hillard, again a 3 star recruit that got better each season. One thing in common is both players have tremendous coaches. When you have a coach like Jay and staff like ours you just never know when a player is going to make a huge jump. You need kids with the right personality who are willing to put in the work and make the sacrifices. These kids are not easy to find, saying that Jay does a wonderful job of this and it is the main reason we will continue to be a very good basketball program.
3. Losing Ennis hurts and we will feel it November through mid January next year. Saying that, its hard to argue, no how much you love Dylan that the long term growth of Brunson/Booth helps the program. So yes, I will miss Dylann and I thank him for being part of my favorite teams, saying that lets just move on. Alot to be excited with Brunson and Booth manning the back court for a while, maybe one of our best back courts offensively.
4. I really think Bridges and Reynolds are going to surprise us next year. Call itn a whim, call it whatever. First Reynolds has had to guard JVP and Ochefu in practice for 2 years. He is learning and getting better, yes he didnt play this year but I think he can contribute. He wont be asked to score alot, he can work on the other parts of his game, I like his transition in getting those 9-12 minutes we need from. I think Bridges is going to come off our bench and give us instant energy, again he wont be asked to do whole lot but I think he helps in a way Booth and Hart did in the past. Come off give a 5-10 good minutes, shooting, and some toughness on D.
5. I am going to give a big shot out to Beefer. I watched the Wisconsin game and the Wisconsin players 3-5 were better rebounders, shooters and dribblers than Kentucky. That is why they won. Kaminsky, Dekker, Hayes are very versatile. Towns, Stein, Lyles are not. That was the difference. Love the Spellman pick up as he brings this, would love get either Durham or Big Nick as both can shoot and spread the floor. Jay really know what hes doing here. Also, a guy like Delaney, Donte, Bridges can bring you alot off the bench in reserve roles as shooters/passer/etc. Very excited. Also add a guy like Pascall who is 6-6 and this is a very good team. Would love to be in Phoenix for the Final Four, I have a free place to stay
.6. I am excited to see how next year plays out. We are going to take our bumps and bruises (mind you I said this last year as well). Good guards can do alot of things BUT we need Ochefu to truly have a special year for this all to work. I like Daniel's game, I think he needs to be a bit less tenative with the ball . We will struggle on D BUT I think Booth, Jenkins are going to get better and I think Reynolds and Bridges brings some nice length off the bench.
I think we get a lower seed (maybe a 3 or 4) and I think we make the Sweet 16/Elite 8 next year. I think this team will not be as good as last years but for some reason the brackets turn in our favor. Call it a gut feel or just being a homer either way, should be fun.
